Results 1 to 2 of 2

Thread: One tough custodian

  1. #1
    Immortal Contributor
    Moderator
    travelling_gerry's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth, Western Australia, Australia
    Posts
    18,483
    vCash
    5062000

    One tough custodian

    One tough custodian








    Tough customer...Wallaroo Ashleigh Hewson outside Long Bay jail. Picture: Brett Costello Source: The Daily Telegraph



    DIMINUTIVE Ashleigh Hewson has been responsible for ensuring some of Australia's toughest criminals toe the line at Sydney's notorious Long Bay jail.

    After handling those characters, tackling arch-rivals New Zealand during this month's women's Rugby World Cup in England should be a stroll in the park for the star Wallaroos custodian.
    When she is not playing fullback, Hewson runs around a wing of the prison where she works as a correctional officer. No wonder Wallaroos coach John Manenti describes his 65kg goalkicking ace as "a tough cookie".
    "I did a stint in the immediate action team which is the squad that responds to emergencies and so forth," Hewson said.
    "That was definitely an eye-opener, there were a few scary situations and your adrenalin was definitely pumping."
    Being in the thick of that kind of action is one of the big attractions of the job for the 30-year-old.


    "Not many people want to do it, but I really enjoy it because of my competitive nature and because it is so challenging," she said.
    Hewson admitted her first day on the job was very daunting when she walked into Area One, the maximum security section of the prison. "But you just treat people the way you want to be treated, that's how I look at anyone I meet," she said.
    "I'm working with male inmates that are three times my size.
    "A lot of the time that comes down to your brain and not brawn."
    Playing rugby has helped Hewson handle those pressures she faces on a daily basis.
    "I take a lot of the competitiveness and hardness I have on the field into a job like this," she said.
    For the past 12 months Hewson has worked in a unit with developmentally delayed inmates.
    "It is very different and makes you realise how lucky you are. A lot of them live on the street and this is their home, which is sad," she said.
    The rewards come when Hewson sees the improvements in their behaviour.
    "Even just the simple things - now they say 'please' and 'thank you' because I would say 'use your manners'. They have never been taught that," she said.
    The prisoners were a bit shocked to discover Officer Hewson was a topline rugby player because they said she was too little. But her sporting prowess gained her a lot of kudos.
    "I kick the ball around with them. They are actually very surprised when I can kick further than them and pass further than them," Hewson said.


    http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/spo...-1225901343701

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  2. #2
    Immortal Contributor
    Moderator
    Burgs's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Country WA
    Posts
    22,644
    vCash
    334000
    Wonder what she has on this weekend, Robbie may give her a call to harden up the mens XV...

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    "Bloody oath we did!"

    Nathan Sharpe, Legend.

Similar Threads

  1. O’Connor’s tough initiation - Tahs picking on JOC
    By travelling_gerry in forum Wallabies
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 03-11-08, 15:46
  2. SANZAR gets tough in tour row
    By jargan83 in forum International Rugby
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 05-08-08, 15:43
  3. Wallabies welcome 'rough, tough' French
    By laura in forum Wallabies
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 20-06-08, 15:01
  4. Force focused on 'tough nut' Highlanders
    By travelling_gerry in forum Western Force
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 21-03-08, 08:31

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •